Dr. Jonathan Drummond-Webb Obituary

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Dr. Jonathan Drummond-Webb, a heart surgeon whose work was the focus of a four-part television series and who successfully implanted a life-saving miniature heart pump in a child, was found dead Sunday of a suicide. He was 45.

Drummond-Webb took an overdose of medication and left a note for his wife, who discovered the body, according to Arkansas Children's Hospital. The hospital said friends believe the surgeon suffered a sudden bout of depression.

"Some would say they saved 98 out of 100," Bates said Sunday. "He looked at it and said I lost two out of 100."

Drummond-Webb, chief of pediatric and congenital cardiac surgery at the hospital, earned a national reputation. In 2002, his work was the subject of a four-part ABC News documentary mini-series. The network had said it was attracted by Drummond-Webb's record at the time: 830 surgeries in 18 months with a 2 percent mortality rate.

In September, Drummond-Webb performed the first successful implant of a miniature heart pump in a 14-year-old boy with a heart defect, keeping him alive until a heart transplant was possible. The teen, Travis Marcus, was released from the hospital Thursday.

Travis' father, Rick Marcus, said the family talked to Drummond-Webb by telephone on Christmas and nothing seemed wrong.

"He was wonderful to the kids. The kids meant everything to him," Marcus said. "You don't expect someone with that kind of vitality won't be with us anymore."

He said his son was devastated by word of the death, and had ended the Christmas Day conversation by saying, "I'll see you, boss," his nickname for Drummond-Webb.

In 2002, Drummond-Webb said the only reason he allowed ABC's cameras to follow him around for the four-part series on its "Primetime" news show was to get the message out about organ donation.

Earlier this week, the surgeon told The Associated Press: "This is a high-risk business. We see children walking out, we also see children who do not make it."

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Dr. Jonathan Drummond-Webb, a heart surgeon whose work was the focus of a four-part television series and who successfully implanted a life-saving miniature heart pump in a child, was found dead Sunday of a suicide. He was 45.

Drummond-Webb took an overdose of medication and left a note for his wife, who discovered the body, according to Arkansas Children's Hospital. The hospital said friends believe the surgeon suffered a sudden bout of depression.

"Some would say they saved 98 out of 100," Bates said Sunday. "He looked at it and said I lost two out of 100."

Drummond-Webb, chief of pediatric and congenital cardiac surgery at the hospital, earned a national reputation. In 2002, his work was the subject of a four-part ABC News documentary mini-series. The network had said it was attracted by Drummond-Webb's record at the time: 830 surgeries in 18 months with a 2 percent mortality rate.

In September, Drummond-Webb performed the first successful implant of a miniature heart pump in a 14-year-old boy with a heart defect, keeping him alive until a heart transplant was possible. The teen, Travis Marcus, was released from the hospital Thursday.

Travis' father, Rick Marcus, said the family talked to Drummond-Webb by telephone on Christmas and nothing seemed wrong.

"He was wonderful to the kids. The kids meant everything to him," Marcus said. "You don't expect someone with that kind of vitality won't be with us anymore."

He said his son was devastated by word of the death, and had ended the Christmas Day conversation by saying, "I'll see you, boss," his nickname for Drummond-Webb.

In 2002, Drummond-Webb said the only reason he allowed ABC's cameras to follow him around for the four-part series on its "Primetime" news show was to get the message out about organ donation.

Earlier this week, the surgeon told The Associated Press: "This is a high-risk business. We see children walking out, we also see children who do not make it."

Guest Book Highlights

"dr.jonathan Drummond-Webb saved my live he did my open heart surgery when I was three months old I really wanted to meet him but he committed suicide I am 11 years old now and I have yearly checkup and he is a very good man I miss him and think off..."- gavin wright (AR)

"Ten years ago your passing changed my life and only for the better. It made a big impact on how I choose to live my life and to make sure I take advantage of the time I have here on earth. I feel extremely blessed to have had you as a role model as..."- Erich "Shrimp" Nell (Denver, CO)

"It is hard to believe it has been 10 years since we lost Dr Jonathan Drummond-Webb. Though the years have helped subdue the pain of such a dramatic and sudden loss, nothing can erase the sorrow of knowing that he left behind so many that were..."- Mary Powers (North Canton, OH)

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Published in The Plain Dealer on December 29, 2004

DRUMMOND-WEBB DR. JONATHAN JAMES DRUMMOND-WEBB, age 45, of Little Rock, AR., died Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, he was the son of the late Errol Praine Drummond and Anne...
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